“He's just watching out for you, Desiree.' Dee patted Mace's arm. 'Bless his heart.'Mace growled. 'I know that's not a compliment, Dee-Ann.”

“He growled. Really, how attached could Smitty be to his sister? Would he really notice if Mace killed her?”

“She decided to be honest. “You”—she pointed at Dee-Ann—“kill at the slightest provocation. I hit for no other reason than I feel like it. And MacDermot is rude and abrasive.” Cella put her arms around each woman’s shoulders and hugged them in tight. “Oh, my God! I just realized. I love you guys!”“You’re touchin’ me,” Dee-Ann complained.“Yeah, but at least this time it’s not ’cause I’m hitting you.”

“Mace growled and wondered how much prison time a man would do for tossing his sister into the East River.”

“Heifer.”“Rich man’s whore!”“At least mine can cook the food he eats. And replaces it, too.”“Now see, Dee-Ann Smith. That was just mean!”

“Mace watched his beautiful sister. She took after their mother. He took after his father. And they got along about as well as that pair did.”

“I'm not a whore, Dee-Ann. You can't just come here to use and abuse me before going on your merry way. Unless, of course, you're naked.”